People eligible for the £900 cost of living support will receive the payment in three instalments this year, the Department for Work and Pensions has said. The payment was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Autumn statement in November and will be given to around eight million people on means-tested benefits - including those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and tax credits.
The first payment of £301 will be made in spring 2023, followed by a second of £300 in the autumn 2003 and a final instalment of £299 in spring 2024. There will also be a separate £150 payment for more than six million people with disabilities in summer 2023 and £300 for over eight million pensioners in winter 2023-24.
Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time, the government said, adding that payments will be spread to ensure consistent support throughout the year. The department added that £900 payment is being delivered in three slightly different amounts, with the distinct values relating to a specific qualifying period, so it is simpler to determine if a payee received the correct payments, reducing the risk of fraud.
